Sugar Supply In Children Increases Diabetes Risks And Heart Attack

Illustration of Sugar High Food (Photo: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Excessive sugar intake in children from sweet foods and drinks can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome which is a health disorder can simultaneously increase the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart attacks.

"Excess sugar intake increases the risk of metabolic syndrome such as overweight, more nutrition, bad cholesterol levels and type two diabetes increases in the future," said a pediatric specialist who graduated from Sebelas Maret State University, Dr. Noor Anggrainy Retnowati, Sp.A, quoted from ANTARA, Tuesday, September 27.

The member of the Indonesian Doctors Association explained that parents must remember that there are many types of sugar that must be known so that their intake can be controlled. In addition to sugar sugar, there are also fructosa, glucose, lactose, maltosa aka wheat sugar, raw sugar or raw crystal sugar to sukrosa.

The American Pediatrics Academy (American Academy of Pediatrics) regulates that sugar intake for children per day is limited to a maximum of six teaspoons or approximately 24 grams. Adding sugar to food and drinks for children under two years of age is not recommended to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome when children grow up.

Natural sugar is also contained in fruit which is part of daily food. Therefore, parents should also pay attention to the provision of fruit for children so that they do not exceed the limit of their children's sugar consumption.

Anggra explained that AAP does not recommend giving fruit in the form of juice for children under the age of a year.

"Children under a year are better given directly, such as being slashed or bitten if the fruit is soft."

Fruit juices made purely without additional sweeteners may be given to children aged 1-3 years with a limit of less than 100 ml per day, while children aged 4-6 years may drink 110-150 ml of fruit juice per day, and children over two years may drink fruit juice up to 200 ml per day.

In Indonesia, the recommended daily sugar intake limit provisions have been stated in the Minister of Health Regulation Number 30 of 2013 where sugar consumption in adults is a maximum of 50 grams per day to avoid the risk of hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and heart attacks.